Bible: Numbers 17

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

The LordspoketoMoses:17:2“Speaktothe Israelites, and receivefrom them a stafffrom each tribe,2one from everytribal leader,3twelvestaffs; you must writeeach man’snameonhis staff.17:3You must writeAaron’snameonthe staffof Levi; foronestaffis for the headof every tribe.417:4You must placethem5 in the tentof meetingbeforethe arkof the covenant6 whereI meetwith you.17:5And the staffof the manwhomI choosewill blossom; so I will ridmyself of the complaintsof the Israelites, whichtheymurmuragainstyou.”

17:6So Mosesspoketothe Israelites, and each of their leadersgavehim a staff, onefor eachleader,7according to their tribes8 – twelvestaffs; the staffof Aaronwas amongtheir staffs.17:7Then Mosesplacedthe staffsbeforethe Lordin the tentof the testimony.9

The Memorial

17:10The LordsaidtoMoses, “BringAaron’sstaffback beforethe testimonyto be preserved fora signto the rebels, so that you may bringtheir murmuringsto an end13 before me, that they will notdie.”1417:11So Mosesdidasthe Lordcommanded him – this is what he did.

17:12The IsraelitessaidtoMoses, “We are bound to die!15 We perish, we allperish!17:1316Anyone who even comesclosetothe tabernacleof the Lordwill die! Are weall to die?”17